You can work as an Earthmoving Plant Operator (General) without formal qualifications, however, they may be useful. Training is available through VET (Vocational Education and Training). A course in civil construction plant operations might be helpful.

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Earthmoving Plant Operators

$1,491Weekly Pay

Weekly Pay

Earnings are median for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, before tax, including amounts salary sacrificed. These figures are a guide only and should not be used to determine a wage rate.
Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report.

StableFuture Growth

Future Growth

The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business estimates the likely change in number of workers over the next 5 years. Future growth is the likely percentage change, compared to all other occupations. Possible ratings are

Very strong growth

Strong growth

Moderate growth

Stable

Decline

Lower unemploymentUnemployment

Unemployment

A lower unemployment rate shows people who work in this job are less likely to be out of work than people who work in other jobs.

Earthmoving Plant Operators (General)

4,100 workersEmployment Size

Employment Size

Employment size is the number of workers who do this as their main job.
Sources: ABS Labour Force Survey (custom trend) for 4-digit occupations (e.g., ANZSCO ID 1112) and 2016 Census for 6-digit occupations (e.g., ANZSCO ID 111211). As the figures come from different sources, the 6-digit figures may not sum to match the 4-digit totals.

Lower skillSkill level rating

Skill Levels

Skill level ratings are based on the range and complexity of job tasks. In general, the higher the skill level, the more formal education and training, previous experience or on-the-job training needed to be good at the job. Entry level jobs often need no prior training or experience. Possible ratings are

Very high skill – 5+ years training or experience, or a Bachelor Degree or higher

High skill – 3+ years training or experience, or an Associate Degree or Diploma

Medium skill – 3+ years training or experience, or a Certificate III/IV

Lower skill – 1+ year of experience, or a Certificate II/III

Entry level – High School or Certificate I

91% Full-Time
Full-Time Share

Full-Time Share

Full-time workers usually work 35 hours or more a week (in all their jobs combined).

49 hours
Average full-time

Average full-time hours

Average full-time hours is the actual hours worked in this job per week, by people who work full-time hours in all of their jobs combined.

48 yearsAverage age

Average age

This is the average age of all workers in this job. See the Prospects page for the full age profile.

3% femaleGender Share

The number of people working as Earthmoving Plant Operators (General) (in their main job) fell over 5 years:from 7,000 in 2011 to 4,100 in 2016.

Size: This is a very small occupation.

Location: Earthmoving Plant Operators (General) work in many parts of Australia. Queensland has a large share of workers.

Industries: Most work in Construction; Public Administration and Safety; and Transport, Postal and Warehousing.

Full-time: Most work full-time (91%, much higher than the average of 66%).

Hours: Full-time workers spend around 49 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).

Age: The average age is 48 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (60%).

Gender: 3% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).

Employment Outlook

Number of Workers

No data is available for the selected graph for this Occupation.

Weekly Earnings

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

No data is available for the selected graph for this Occupation.

Main Industries

Main Employing Industries (% Share)

Main Employing Industries

Industry (% share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).

Main Employing Industries

Industry (% share)

Construction

72.6

Public Administration and Safety

17.5

Transport, Postal and Warehousing

2.4

Mining

1.9

Other Industries

5.6

States and Territories

NSW

VIC

QLD

SA

WA

TAS

NT

ACT

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State

Earthmoving Plant Operators (General)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.

State

Earthmoving Plant Operators (General)

All Jobs Average

NSW

27.3

31.6

VIC

20.4

25.6

QLD

27.3

20.0

SA

7.0

7.0

WA

12.8

10.8

TAS

3.4

2.0

NT

1.1

1.0

ACT

0.6

1.9

Age Profile

Age Profile (% Share)

Age Bracket

Earthmoving Plant Operators (General)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Age Bracket

Earthmoving Plant Operators (General)

All Jobs Average

All Jobs Average

15-19

0.5

-5.0

5.0

20-24

1.9

-9.3

9.3

25-34

15.4

-22.9

22.9

35-44

22.6

-22.0

22.0

45-54

30.1

-21.6

21.6

55-59

13.9

-9.0

9.0

60-64

9.5

-6.0

6.0

65 and Over

6.2

-4.2

4.2

Education Level

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Type of Qualification

Earthmoving Plant Operators (General)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.

Type of Qualification

Earthmoving Plant Operators (General)

All Jobs Average

All Jobs Average

Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate

0.7

-10.1

10.1

Bachelor degree

2.4

-21.8

21.8

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

5.8

-11.6

11.6

Certificate III/IV

39.5

-21.1

21.1

Year 12

12.8

-18.1

18.1

Year 11

6.0

-4.8

4.8

Year 10 and below

32.8

-12.5

12.5

You can work as an Earthmoving Plant Operator (General) without formal qualifications, however, they may be useful. Training is available through VET (Vocational Education and Training). A course in civil construction plant operations might be helpful.

Checks, licences and tickets

You may need:

high risk work licence

forklift licence

manual drivers licence

medium rigid (MR) driver's licence

heavy ridged (HR) driver's licence

national police check

Psychometric or aptitude tests

Thinking about study or training?

Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need.

Face-to-face discussions

Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

Very hot or cold temperatures

89% Important

Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.

Support

71% Important

Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

Relationships

57% Important

Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

Working conditions

52% Important

Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

Achievement

48% Important

Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

Independence

43% Important

Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

Recognition

38% Important

Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

Practical

100% Important

Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

Administrative

62% Important

Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

Analytical

48% Important

Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

Enterprising

24% Important

Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

Creative

14% Important

Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.